As the Veerappa Moily oversight committee works on a roadmap for 27 per cent OBC reservation in Central educational institutions, the Planning Commission has come up with a medium to long-term strategy that involves, among other measures, upgradation of at least 20 universities in the next five years, a merit-cum-means based loan and a scholarship programme to meet the resource need on account of the Government’s seat expansion plan. In its approach paper for the 11th Plan (2007-2012), submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week, the Commission has even sent out a note of caution, urging attention be paid to school-level education. “Unless the access of all groups to high quality schooling is improved” those who benefit from the reservation policy “will remain at a disadvantage . because they will not be able to do well at later educational stages,” the Commission paper points out. Under the higher education policy for the 11th Plan for a nation where only about 8% of the relevant age group go to university as compared to 20-25% in other developing countries, the paper talks of a plan of “upgrading a few existing select universities with potential for excellence” and adds such a plan “will be formulated laying down specific parameters which are in tune with global standards” . While recognizing that seat expansion was “long overdue”, it says that extension of reservation for OBCs in Central educational institutions highlights “the issue of inadequate capacity for non-OBC, non SC/ST students in high quality institutions” and, therefore, the 11th plan should aim for expansion over the medium term which would allow expansion even for the general category.
